Debbie Brown

Debbie Brown, head coach of the University of Notre Dame volleyball program from 1991-2014, closed her career with a 636-330 (.658) record including a 519-247 (.678) mark with the Irish.

When taking over the reins at Notre Dame, Brown inherited a program that had just five winning seasons in its first 11 years of varsity volleyball action. After going a combined 27-0 with four titles in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference from 1991-1995, she immediately helped become a perennial BIG EAST Conference powerhouse during the program’s 18-year run in the league. During that time the Irish won nine BIG EAST Tournament Championships in 18 appearances.

Before coaching at Notre Dame, Brown began as an assistant with Arizona State under Dale Flickinger, filling that role from 1980-82 before coaching at Central Arizona College in the ‘82 season. She returned to Arizona State as head coach in 1983 where the Sun Devils were ranked among the top programs in the nation for six seasons. She compiled a 117-83 record enroot to five NCAA Tournament berths while at Arizona State. Brown took a leave of absence from Arizona State in 1988 to coach for the United States National Team.

Debbie Brown grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of El Segundo and was one of the nation’s top prep players. She competed for the United States at the 1974 World Championship in Mexico City and won the USVBA title a year later. She later captained the University of Southern California to a 72-1 two-year record and national titles in 1976 and 1977. Brown was named a collegiate All-American and received the Mikasa Award as the “nation’s best all-around player” in 1976 and 1977.

USC paid tribute to Brown during the 2008 season by naming her a program “All-Time Great,” an honor shared with Trojan teammate Sue Woodstra. A permanent banner with Brown’s name (Landreth) and jersey number (No. 5) now hangs from the rafters of USC’s Galen Center.

Brown completed her degree in physical education at Arizona State in 1982. Her and her husband, Dennis have been married for 34 years and have two sons, Connor and Ryan, who both attended Notre Dame.read more...